Portable electric fountain



Nov. 1, 1932. s; B. HUTCHINGS ET AL 1,885,330

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN Filed Aug. 24. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l mar/m 77021 LE i 5 Nov.

5 B. HUTCHINGS ET AL V PORTABLE ELECTRIC FOUNTAI LN 3 Sheets-Sheet Zia 6/207 5 Na 6 12;- z/dzz Filed Aug. 24. 1929 EMPFE N 193 5. L3. HUTCHINGS ET AL 1,885,330

PORTABLE ELECTRI G FOUNTAIN Filed Aug. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l {I 24 4 m 4/ 2% 7' A9 5 v o I o 755 4 iii;

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED stares mmem STEPHEN HUTCHINGS AND HALTER L. HAANEL, OF GI IICA GD, ILLINOIS; SAID I-IAANEL ASSIGN-OB TO SAID HUTCHINGS PORTABLE ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN Application filed. August 24, 1929. Serial No. 388,060.

This invention relates to a portable electric fountain adapted for display purposes.

. Fountains of this type as they are now manufactured generally comprise a basin for holding the water a motor a centrifugal pump for forcing the water into a spray ring, and an illuminating system for beautifying the fountain. The working part of the fountain is usually housed within a container. The manner of constructing and assembling such fountains in the past has been more or less costly on account of the large number of parts. These parts were assembled by nuts and screws which were readily accessible, and were frequently tampered with by the user, with the result that the manufacturer was often called upon for repairs. Fountains of the priorart possess but small nozzles in the spray ring and will become clogged up with sediment. After a few months use most of the fountains will have only a few of their nozzles free from sediment; the balance of the nozzles being totally clogged up, thereby stopping or greatly impairing the water display. Such clogging of the nozzles is also apt to direct the spray in an irregular manner so that it will shoot over the side of the fountain on to the-floor and upon any furniture that may be near by. When a shade is used in the illuminating system this clogged condition of the nozzles frequently results in an absence of spray over the shade which will consequently become more or less heated and which is apt to crack when the spray'is again directed thereon.

1 It is an object of this invention to overcome the above noted objections in the provision of a fountain possessing a minimum number of parts which are easy to machine and assemble, .and whichare truly reliable and fool proof; and inwhich the spray-ring canbe readily cleaned from all sediment, eliminating-thereby the danger of cracking the illuminating shade or globe.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an'improved means for illuminating the fountain with multi-color light rays.

It is a-further object of this invention to provide a fountain mounted in a portable container and whichis readily adapted for mounting in a permanent basin of any desired construction. v

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent in the following description and disclosures, this invention comprises the novel structure and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which illus trate a preferred embodiment ofthis invention, and in which similar reference numbers referv to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a display fountain involving this invention mounted in a basin which is shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the fountain.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational View of the fountain proper, part in cross section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the spray-ring and one of the nozzles taken substantially upon the line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail View through the spray-ring and water inlet thereto showing the regulating valve taken substantially upon the line V V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail View through the spray-ring showing the manner of attaching the ring.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the pumping and illuminating mechanisms.

. Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 7.

, Figure 9 is a cross section of the speed reducingmechanism of the drive for rotating the illuminating globe, taken substantially on line IXTX of Figure 10.

, Figure 10 is a plan View of the illuminating globe and driving mechanism partly in section. j

,. As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, there is shown in Figure 1 a typical basin 1 in which the fountain" 2 has been mounted. The fountain proper comprises a cylindrical container 3 constructed of nonrusting metal, upon which a cover 4 is placed; the: cover-having its central portion formed into an aperture surrounded by an annular flange 5 and forming a groove or seat for an annular ring 6 which is soldered or otherwise secured therein to the cover. The cover is made of larger diameter than the container so that the circumferential edge of the cover will overhang the side wall of the container and thereby prevent the falling spray from the fountain from entering the interior of the container; 'The annular ringG of non-rust,-

a spray-ring 7 of non-rustable material. The spray-ring 7, which is hollow, comprises a flat top '8 in which suitable nozzles 9 are placed. These nozzles may be spaced apart as desired. The spray-ring is provided with I depending side walls, the outer wall in the present instance diverging outwardly from the flat top and terminating in a circumferential flange .10. The inner wall is perpen dicular to the flat top and terminates in an inwardly directed circumferential flange 11 which forms a seat for a glass or lens 12 which is directly over the central aperture Y of the container cover. -'Suitable gaskets 13 are placed above and below the glass 12 and a retaining ring 14 in threaded engagement with'the inner wall of the spray-ring is tightened against the gaskets to seal the glass plate 1 in position. A suitable gasket 15 is inserted bet-ween the flanges and 11 of the sprayrmg and the seating rmg 6; Suitable screws 16, Figure 6, extending through the'top of the spray-ring and engaging the seating rmg,

, may be used to hold the spray-ring 1n position and tighten it against the gasket to form a water tight compartment within the ring The compartment formed by the sprayring 7 communicates with a water inlet passage 17 which is formed in a suitable boss upon the bottom of the annular seating ring 6; this boss being suitably threaded for making a pipe connection to the discharge pipe.

18 from the centrifugal pump. An adjustable valve screw 19 in alignment with the passage 17 extends through the flat top of the spray-ring for regulating the flow of water from the passage into the compartment of the spray-ring. r

The mechanism of the fountain is mounted upon a base plate 19a which is secured to the bottom of the container or housing. An electric motor 20 is provided with a shaft 21 on one end which extends through a stuffing box 22 in the housing of a centrifugal pump 23. The outer end of this shaft is suitably secured to the impeller of the pump. An intake pipe 24 extends through the base plate 19a andthe bottom of the container 3 into the water in the basin '1. Suitable lock nuts 25 and gaskets 26 are provided to prevent leakage where the pipe 24 passes through the bottom of the container. The discharge from the pump iscarried through mg material forms a seat or mounting for" the pipe18 which is connected to the passage by means of a pipe coupling 27 as shown in Figure 5. It is to be noted that by having the discharge connect-ion from the pump connected to the seating ring 6 in this manner that the spray-ring can be readily removed for cleansing purposes.

The illuminating mechanism for the fountain consists of a light globe 28 which is positioned directly belowthe central apertureof the container cover 4 and the glass 12. The globe issupported horizontally in a rotatable socket comprising a cylinder 29 of insulating material; one end'of this cylinder being open and the other end closed. The inner surface of the open end of the cylinder is threaded to receive the contact sheath 30 of the globe 28. The closed end of the cylinder is drilled for the insertion of a shaft 31 which is secured thereinby' a pin 32. A metal ferrule 33 surrounds the cylinder 29 near its open end and is electricallyconnected to the sheath 30 of the globe. A second ferrule 34 in spaced relation to the ferrule 33 surounds the cylinder 29 near its closed end and makes electrical connection with the contact tip 35 of the globe 28, through the connector strip 36.- Suitable brushes 37 and 38 are provided for making electrical contact with the ferrules 34 and 33 respectively during the rotational movement of the socket. The brushes are spaced apart from each other and held in position by an insulating strip 39 which is secured by screws 40 to a supporting bracket 41 which is mounted on the base plate 19a. Since the motor may operate at a comparatively high speed and it is desirable to rotate the globe 28 at a relatively low speed, it is necessary to provide a speed reducing mechanism.

In this instance,a gear and worm arrangement is used. The speed reducing mechanism isenclosed within a casing 41a through a side of which the driven shaft 31 extends. A worm gear 42 on the driving shaft 43; which is parallel to the driven shaft 31, meshes with a spiral gear 44 to drive a shaft 45 which is at right angles to the driving shaft 43 and has its-ends journalled in the sides of the housing 41a. Also secured to the shaft 45 is a worm gear 46 whichmeshes with a spiral gear 47 to drive the shaft 31. A drive pulley 48 is mounted on the shaft 43 and is connected by a belt 49 which is trained over a similar pulley50 which is mounted on one end of the motor shaft 21. Withthis arrangement, thelmotor. not only drives the centrifugal pump but through the speed reducing mechanism will also revolve the globe 28 about its longitudinal axis.

Suitable prisms 51 supported on their longitudinal axes at their ends for rotational adjustment are provided for deflecting the light rays from the globe 28 in an upward direction so that they will pass through the face sectionalized into areas of different.

colors for producingmulti-color effects when the globe is rotated. i

The main leads 52 and 53 of the electrical circuit enter the container through a conduit 54 which is secured in the bottom of the container by suitable lock nuts and gaskets to prevent leakage. The lead 52 is carried directly to the motorand the lead 53 is connected to one end of a resistance 58 which is adjustable for Variations in the supply voltage. The variable contact terminal of the resistance 58 is connected through the lead 55 to the other motor terminal. The illuminating circuit is tapped into the main leads 52 and 53 ahead of the resistor in order that variations of the resistor will not aflect the illumination. The lead 56 is connected to the lead 52 and thebrush 37, the lead 57 connecting the brush 38 to the main lead 53.

It is therefore evident that this invention provides a fountain which is made of very few parts which can be quickly assembled or disassembled, the fountain being adapted for use as a portable fountain or it may be installed in a permanent location in which any kind of basin may be used. Itwill be appreciated that the spray-ring is readily removable and cleansed in order that an efficient spray may always be obtained. A novel arrangement of illumination is provided in which beautiful color eflects are produced.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range-without. departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a fountain, a container, a cover secured to said container and having a transparent section, a multi-color light producing means within said container, and adjustable prisms for reflecting light from said means through said transparent section, said prisms being rotatably mounted.

2. In a fountain, a container, a cover secured to said container and having a transparent section, a multi-color light producing means within said container, and prisms for reflecting different colors of light emitted by said means through said transparent section in a direction to cause said colors to be intermingled.

3. An electric fountain comprising a container, a cover secured to said container and having a centrally disposed transparent section, a spray-ring supported on said cover and arranged for spraying fluid upwardly and around said transparent section, an electric lamp in said container having a multicolored globe, said lamp being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, prisms disposed on either side of said lamp for simultaneously deviating rays passing through different colored I portions of said globe upwardly through the transparent section, 'said prisms being mounted for rotational adjustment to vary the deviation of the rays passing through the prisms, pumping means in said container for supplying fluid to said spray-ring, and power means in said container for actuating said lamp and pumping means.

4. A portable electric fountain comprisev ing a basin containing a fluid, a container supported in said basin so as to be partially submerged, the upper edge of the container being disposed above the level of the fluid in the basin, a cover for said container having a transparent central section, a sprayring surrounding said transparent section, multi-colored light producing means in said container, a portion of said light being transmitted directly through said transparent sec-tion, prisms for deviating other portions of said light into said directly transmitted portion at an angle thereto, whereby various colors are intermingled, pumping means in said container for pumping fluid from said basin to saidspray-ring, and power means in said container for actuating said pump-f ing means and first means.

5. In a fountain, a container, a cover secured to said container and having a trans- 

